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Author 



Title 



Imprint. 




AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE. 




THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT; 



A DETAIL OF 



WHAT THE WRITER SAW IN A SCOUT INSIDE THE REBEL 
LINES AROUND VICKSBURG, IN 1863. 



By S. WOOLWORTH, 




CHICAGO, ILLIlSrOIS; 

1867. 



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THE 



MISSISSIPPI SCOUT 



OB, 



A DETAIL OF WHAT THE WRITER SAW, 



IN A SCOUT, 



Inside the Rebel Lines around Vicksburg, in 1863. 




-1^ 

BY S. WOOLWORTH 



N- 

^ 



IT ALSO CONTAINS AN ADVERTISEMENT OF A BOOK WHICH 
HE IS NOW PUBLISHING. 



CHICAGO ; 

1867. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tho year 1867, by 

SOLOMON WOOLWORTH, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for tho Northern District of Illinois. 




E4o? 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 



This little narrative is to compose part of a work wliicli is to 
be published shortly by Solomon Woolworth. 

This story will give the history of what the writer saw inside 
the rebel lines, in and about Vicksburg, Mississippi, commencing 
at the time the Union army lay at Young's Point, February 2d, 
1863, digging what was called Butler's ditch, (the canal across 
Young's Point,) to turn the Mississippi river. It will be remem- 
bered that the Mississippi, at this time, was eight feet above the 
level of the country, only kept within its bounds by a levee, 
which was about twelve feet across the top, and which we were 
daily expecting would be cut by the rebels, thus leaving us the 
only means of escaping by our fleet, which was continually fired 
up, ready for embarkation at a moment's notice. The fleet 
consisted of one hundred and ten Mississippi steamers. 

The ground on which we were camped, there were six inches 
of water on it. The only means of keeping dry was, by falling 
trees in the water, and making our beds on the logs. At this 
time the Union army in front of Vicksburg numbered forty 
thousand, inclusive of which about twelve thousand were in 
hospital. They were dying at the rate of from sixty to seventy 
a day. The levee being the only dry place in the surrounding 
country, their bodies were interred upon it, which gave the levee 
the appearance of one immense cemetery. 

This period was one of the most melancholy hours for the 
Union army during the whole rebellion. But a short time 
previous. Holly Springs was captured, sacked, and burned, by 
the rebel General Van Dorn's cavalry. One million dollars' 
worth of army supplies, which were to have fed the army through 
the winter, also the money which was to pay the army, fell a prey 
to the rebels, making it necessary for the whole army to retreat 
to Memphis, Tennessee, leaving a distance of two hundred and 



4 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

fifty miles in the hands of the rebels, which we had fought hard 
for. Also, at about this time the memorable battle of Stone 
river was fought. At the first report, the army was inspired with 
hope, as the news came that General Rosecrans had achieved a 
great victory ; but the second report proved it to be only a drawn 
battle, and nothing substantial had been gained. General Rosecrans 
was compelled to retreat to Murfreesboro, entrench himself, and 
go into winter quarters. It was then proved the old adage was 
true, that trouble never came alone. In a few days after this 
came General Burnside's awful defeat, whereby nearly half the 
Potomac army was slaughtered. The remnant of the Potomac 
army remaining was compelled to retreat almost to Washington, 
D. C, and go into winter quarters. It will also be remembered, 
about one month previous General Sherman was defeated on the 
Yazoo river, at Hain's bluff, with about thirty thousand men, 
compelling him to retreat in the night and embark upon the fleet, 
to save his army. The writer was in this fight, which lasted three 
days. Our loss was seven hundred killed and twenty-five hundred 
wounded. 

In view of all these disasters, the Union army was on the eve 
of despair, so much so, that the bravest and most rugged of our 
soldiers looked in each other's face, saying: "Will we ever be able 
to conquer this rebellion and return to our homes?" 

The rebels in Yicksburg amused themselves by throwing shells 
into our camp ; first from Whistling Dick, then from Lady Butler, 
and then from General Bragg, these being the names of their 
biggest and best guns, by which they were enabled to throw 
shells successfully into our camp, it being about three miles from 
the city of Yicksburg. I recollect, one day, when a shell from 
one of these guns burst in the Mississippi, at the mouth of the 
canal, where the Sixth Missouri regiment were digging, which 
nearly drowned the whole regiment. This caused great merriment 
among the boys. The rebels were arrogant at this time — flushed 
with victory. The few prisoners who accidentally fell into our 
hands about this time said, all they desired was to have us attack 
the city, as there was a grave prepared for each of us — that they 
would overwhelm and annihilate us, as they had the balance of 
the Union armies. 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 5 

They reported that the city was under command of General Jo 
Johnson, with one hundred and ten thousand men, and Generals 
Van Dorn and Prim were at Jackson, with sixty thousand men 
well entrenched. Notwithstanding all these despondencies, which 
were enough to overwhelm the strongest heart, the greater number 
of our officers were continually inebriated, and busied themselves 
gambling, day and night, which placed the army in a more critical 
condition. My heart sickened at the spectacle before me. It is 
to be hoped that this present nor future generations shall ever 
witness such a trial. I lay many nights, sleepless, studying how 
this terrible crisis would end. I finally concluded to go to General 
Grant's headquarters, to ascertain if I could get detailed from 
my regiment, to go through the rebel lines for him. I thought if 
I remained where I was that death would be inevitable, and that 
I could but die if I went through the rebel lines and was found 
out to be a Union spy; besides, I was moved by curiosity to find 
out what was masked behind those ever-booming cannons and 
beyond the hills that gloomed up at a distance. I accordingly 
set out for General Grant's headquarters, which 1 learned were 
on the steamer Magnolia, lying about the middle of our fleet. 
Upon presenting myself at the steamboat, I inquired for General 
Grant. I was told that he was absent. While I stood upon the 
river bank, amusing myself by surveying the fleet, there suddenly 
rode towards me a general. From previous descriptions, I believed 
it to be General Grant. His face was careworn ; his shoulder- 
straps would be but a poor comparison with the lowest officers in 
hi^ command ; his horse was very much jaded ; he held in his 
mouth a cigar, which he seemed to chew rather than smoke. I 
afterwards learned he was very fond of cigars in this way. To 
use the phrase of an eastern Yankee, he appeared like a man who 
had a violent fit of the blues. As he rode up to me I said: 
"General Grant, I believe?" "Yes," was the reply; "what do 
you wish of me?" I told him, a few moments' conversation. He 
told me to step on the boat, to his headquarters, that he would be 
there in a moment. As he came in, he said: "What do you wish 
to say to me?" I said: "General, I wish to go to Vicksburg." 
He looked me in the eye with a piercing glance, then said: "Do 
you think you can go there?" After a brief conversation, he 



6 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

gave me a pass to pass our guards, or pickets, at any hour, day 
or night ; also, an order to the colonel of my regiment, stating 
that he had detailed me for services for himself. He then bid me 
good speed, and told me to learn all I could about the enemy, and 
to report to him as soon as I could. I gave my colonel the order 
and prepared for my journey. I obtained a suit of rebel uniform, 
which was captured by our armies at Arkansas post. I remained 
with my company that night. Before daylight next morning we 
heard a terrible cannonading, such as was not heard while we 
were on the front. We started towards Vicksburg to ascertain 
the cause of such heavy cannonading; we found it to be the ram 
Queen of the "West running past the batteries. 

The bluffs of Vicksburg had the appearance of an immense 
volcano. It is believed that over one thousand shells were fired 
at the Queen of the West as she was passing Vicksburg. The 
rebels had but one boat lying at the wharf, which was called the 
Vicksburg. In the midst of the terrible storm of shot and shell, 
the Queen headed toward the shore, running her bow into the 
Vicksburg about six feet, in his 'midships. The rebels, with guns 
in hand, ran to the river bank and demanded her to surrender, 
but, supposing her an easy prey, did not fire on her until she had 
backed from the shore ; then they saw their mistake, and fired a 
volley, but without effect. She then proceeded down the river 
until she got below the range of their batteries, where she landed. 
We went to see how much she was injured, and found the cotton 
that secured her sides was all on fire, as she was struck eleven 
times with red-hot shot ; the most of them lodged in the cotton 
that protected her sides, one of which had taken effect in her hull. 
By the prompt assistance of the soldiers the fire was extinguished 
and she was saved. After this, she proceeded cautiously down 
the river for a distance of five miles. She then came abreast of 
the Warrington batteries. She headed toward shore, and gave 
them the first round, from two of her bow guns. This waked up 
the rebels, to which they briskly replied, throwing shell and shot 
upon her until she withdrew out of range of their guns. 

I proceeded on my journey to the outposts of our army, it 
being about eight miles down the river. Our outposts were 
situated on a plantation which had been deserted by the rebels. 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 7 

I remained over a night witli the boys. Early in tlie morning I 
proceeded outside of our lines, leaving my pass in a cotton gin 
which was a short distance outside of our lines. In case I was 
taken prisoner, they would not find any positive proof that I was 
a spy. The first place that I arrived at was an old plantation, 
where there were several negro huts, inhabited by a few old 
negroes, that were worth nothing to the rebels, only to give 
information of our movements. I asked one of these negroes for 
some sweet potatoes for my breakfast. He said: "You are a 
white man and I am a nigger. You want to get ofi" here, to save 
your life, as soon as you can. Don't wait for sweet potatoes. I 
love my massa. You don't know how soon dem Yankees will be 
hear. Dey was here yesterday, and took everything dat was on 
de place." I profited by his advice, and quickly left the plan- 
tation. The next place I arrived at was a distance of five miles 
below; there were two adjoining plantations, inhabited by about 
fifteen or twenty women. I asked these women for something to 
eat, as I was very hungry. They asked me if I had been a 
soldier. I told them I was not. They said it was a shame for 
any man not to be in the army when they were so much required, 
and they would not give anything to eat to any one who was not 
a soldier. They thought of dressing in men's attire, and joining 
the Vicksburg army themselves. I proceeded a few miles further 
down, and arrived at another plantation, where there were about 
a dozen or more women. I concluded to change my story; as I 
was amongst such patriotic women, I could not obtain anything to 
eat, if I did not say I was a soldier. I accordingly told those 
women I was captured at Arkansas post by the Yankees, and 
managed to escape from them. They made many inquiries as to 
how and what those dreadful Yankees done, and how their men 
were used; and, smothering me with kisses, gave me all I wished 
to eat. I inquired how far down the Confederate pickets were 
on the opposite side of the river. I told them I intended to join 
the Vicksburg army. They gave me all the information they 
could regarding the army, pickets, etc., and told me where I 
could find a dugout, in a bend of the river, in which I could cross 
the river. I then proceeded about two miles further. I arrived 
at another plantation, where there was another cotton gin, filled 



8 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

with ginned cotton. Here I stopped for the night, digging a hole 
and burying myself entirely in the cotton. I also remained here 
the next day. During that day a party of rebels came, I could 
not tell whether they were guerrillas or soldiers, and, counseling 
whether to burn it or not, they finally concluded that one of the 
party should remain here and watch the movements of the 
Yankees, and if they were likely to come there, to fire it before 
they arrived there. The last resolution suited me much the best, 
although I had nothing to say in the whole of the council. I 
remained undisturbed until evening. I cautiously crept from my 
hiding place, and went to where I was informed the boat was, and 
found it as I was told. I got into the boat, and proceeded with 
great caution below the point where I was told the rebel pickets 
were stationed. I then attempted to cross the river. When 
nearing the other shore, I was fired on from the pickets, two of 
which went through my hat, three through my coat, and several 
entered the boat's side. I lay down in the stern of the boat, 
holding the paddle so that the boat would head toward the shore 
I came from, when the trees on the bank of the river obscured me 
from view of the pickets. I then proceeded cautiously down the 
river for considerable distance, close to the shore. I then 
attempted to cross the river again. I was, this time, successful. I 
then proceeded cautiously up the river on the other side, until I 
got where I could distinguish fires ; from the appearance, I con- 
cluded were the picket lines. I proceeded along the lines by 
keeping out of range of their guns, to ascertain if I could find a 
space between their fires, where I could pass unnoticed. I had 
not gone far when I found the desired spot, which was a swamp, 
lying between two pickets. I knew if I was once inside the 
picket lines, no questions would be asked me, as to who I was, 
nor where I belonged. I went through this swamp as cautious as 
possible, part of the time walking on logs, and part of the time 
wading through water, waist deep ; at length I was successful in 
getting inside the rebel lines. I avoided all officers' headquarters, 
lest I should be questioned as to where I belonged, but I gained 
all the information I could from private soldiers. I learned that 
the Queen of the West created great excitement in Vicksburg, 
and that the pickets were drawn further down the river, which 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 9 

was the cause of mj being fired on. The rebels had fondly 
believed that no boat could pass their batteries, but this spell was 
now broken. I ascertained from soldiers where provost guard was 
stationed, as no soldier likes to come in contact with the provost 
guard, and will give another soldier all the information he can 
respecting them. I proceeded as near to Vicksburg as I could 
without coming in contact with the provost guard, as I was aware 
I would be arrested if I met them, as I had not a pass. I ascer- 
tained from the soldiers around Vicksburg, that the total amount 
of rebel troops was about sixty thousand in the vicinity of Vicks- 
burg, under the immediate command of General Memenger, and 
that the officer commanding the department was General Pember- 
ton, with headquarters at Jackson, Mississippi. As near as I could 
ascertain, there were about twenty thousand troops at Jackson. I 
learned they were but poorly supplied, as they had not drawn but 
half rations for many weeks. The only means they had of sup- 
plying the city, was by a single railroad, running from Jackson to 
Vicksburg, which was in very bad repair. I also ascertained that 
they had twenty batteries bearing on the river, mounting one 
hundred and twelve guns. I also learned that four of those bat- 
teries were water batteries, mounted on the river bank, bearing 
four guns each, the other sixteen were mounted upon the highest 
bluffs around the city, ranging a distance of about four miles. I 
learned that the city was strongly entrenched about three miles 
in the rear of the city. These entrenchments extended all around 
the city, and were mounted with heavy artillery. I also learned 
that the only road by which the city could be entered on the lower 
side, extended through a large space of low ground, which was at 
that time covered with water, rendering it impossible to land an 
army at any place along the Mississippi. On the other side i^^Qxe 
was a large swamp, (which was utterly impassable,) runrj^ng par- 
rellel with the road. This road was strongly fortified;, there were 
forts built at every place where it was possible to 'o^iid a fort, and 
was strongly entrenched with breast works ^,^];^i(,l^ ^ere built in 
such a position that they could bear a ^ //^gg g^g ^^ i]^q road. I 
obtained from some of the rebel sr'^^;g^,g something to eat, also 
some provisions to carry with -^^ ^^^ ^^ pocket.) I made my 
way through the pickets a-^., ^-^^ ^^^^ ^^.^j I came. When 



10 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

fairly outside the rebel lines, I traveled two or three miles, when 
it was quite daylight. I then took up my abode in a thick cane- 
break, where I remained until the next night, when I crept cau- 
tiously out of the cane, and proceeded to the boat, where I arrived 
without being molested. I crossed the river, left my boat, and 
proceeded on my way, without calling on my female friends. I 
met with no further obstacle until I got close to our lines. It was 
nearly night, and I dare not attempt to go through the lines, 
therefore I stopped in another cotton gin until morning, when I 
again started and came to our pickets; the cavalry pickets were 
situated about the middle of a cotton field, a distance of about 
forty rods from which I was approaching. Between them and the 
Mississippi, there was a road which run along the edge of the 
woods. I did not follow this road. I was afraid they would think 
there were more than me, and probably would fire on me, as they 
would take me for a rebel. When I got in full view in the field, 
the pickets put spurs to their horses, and retreated to the woods. 
I was astonished to see them run from a single unarmed man. 
When I arrived at their picket post, they again galloped from the 
woods toward me, with their carbines cocked, and demanded me 
to surrender myself a prisoner to them. I told them not to be so 
fast, as I was a Union soldier. They said: "It was damn pretty 
to see a Union soldier dressed in rebel uniform." I told them if 
they would go to yonder cotton gin with me, I would show them a 
pass from General Grant, they accordingly done so. They took 
me to the headquarters of the pickets. Here they gave me some- 
thing to eat. The lieutenant in command said that he knew it 
to be the general's hand-writing, but he had orders to send any 
pne who came through the lines, to division headquarters, as pris- 
oners. The division was commanded by Major General Steele. I 
was fui'Tiished with a horse to ride, and there were two guards sent 
with me to General Steele's headquarters. The horse was very 
acceptable, as J was very tired, and part of the levee had been 
washed away, and I would have to wade through water, a distance 
of at least one mile. 0^'^ arriving at General Steele's headquar- 
ters, the guards gave him iT^T P^^^? which they had retained until 
this time. General Steele reJ^^sed me from the guards, and 
ordered them to return to the picJ'^^ lines, and told me to come 



\ 



/ 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 11 

into his office, •which was then in a house which had been deserted 
by the rebels. He gave me a dram of whiskey from a bottle which 
stood on the mantel-shelf. I think it was the best I ever tasted. 
He told me to sit down and warm me, as I was drenched with rain. 
It had been raining all day. 

He asked where I had been. I told him to Yicksburg. I also 
told him the precise position of the rebel army, as near as I 
could. He said the information I had gained would be of great 
value to General Grant, and I must report to him immediately. 
He gave me a hasty shake by the hand, and said I was a brave 
soldier; that there were but few in the army that would be 
brave enough to do what I had done. When I went to my 
company the boys were very glad to see me. They said they 
never expected to see me alive again. I staid with the com- 
pany that night, and reported to General Grant next morning. 
I found him on the Magnolia ; he took me into his head- 
quarters, and asked me what I had seen. I gave him a 
description of what I saw. He had his topographical engineer 
note down the position of the batteries and fortifications around 
Yicksburg as I told him. He asked me if I thought the army 
could be successfully landed below the city, or if the city could 
be approached from below. I told him it would be almost an 
impossibility to effect a landing; and if a landing was effected, it 
would be of no avail, as the army would be half slaughtered, and 
there would be nothing accomplished. I had a project of my own 
which I laid open to the General, which would silence the batteries 
around Yicksburg; which was, to take fifty of the bravest men in 
the command, mount them on horses, and go below the city to 
where there was a ferry boat, that we had captured from them; 
to give me command of them. I proposed to have each of these 
men armed with six navy revolvers and clothed with rebel 
uniforms. We would ride up to the rebel pickets, and tell them 
we were rebel scouts and that General Grant's army had all 
crossed the river, and for them to fly as quick as possible to 
infantry headquarters, and report that the Yankees were coming. 
I then proposed to divide these fifty men into eight squads; each 
squad was to give the alarm to the guards of the batteries, as the 
batteries were only guarded by a few men, (that is, the batteries 



12 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

in the upper part of the city;) if these guards did not immediately 
leave the guns to shoot them down. These eight batteries were the 
ones that prevented our army from landing in the upper part of 
the city. Once in possession of the batteries to spike the guns, 
and signal to the fleet that we were in possession of those batteries. 
In my opinion, this could have been easily accomplished, as the 
greatest part of the infantry were three miles from the city. I 
then proposed to go up the river bank, and secret ourselves in a 
thick wood until the arrival of the gunboats. I laid all these 
plans before General Grant, but he would not listen to one word 
of it. He said it was a wild scheme, and that he could not 
consent to have fifty of his brave men slaughtered for nothing. 
He would consent to my going through any dangers that I would 
voluntarily. Although the general and I could not agree on 
generalship, I firmly believe, until this day, if I could have been 
furnished the means I required, I could have accomplished the 
object I proposed. General Grant told me to watch the movement? 
of the enemy, and collect what information I could of their 
movements, and report to him from time to time. I then entered 
on my duties, watching the movements of the enemy in front of 
our lines. The general told me I must draw rations with my 
company, as he had no other provisions for to draw rations for 
me. One day, after a hard day's work, I came to my company 
about ten o'clock at night. There was a fourth corporal, named 
Kidder, in our company, who was very desirous of wearing 
shoulder straps. The said Kidder notified me that I must stand 
guard, (after I had gone to bed.) I remonstrated, stating I was 
on other duties, detailed by General Grant, to which he said I 
was only detailed to perform one job, and that was now accom- 
plished, and I must do duty with the company. I told him I 
would go as soon as I could get up. This did not satisfy him, he 
reported me to a man named Conway, an Irish lieutenant. This 
said Conway usually was in the habit of getting a peculiar weakness 
at any time the regiment was ordered into battle, (this weakness 
was inveterately drunk.) There was a guard detailed forthwith. 
I was put under guard outside of my tent until daylight. They 
said I would be reported to the colonel of the regiment in the 
morning, and have me punished sevevely, for disobeying the orders 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 13 

of the fourth corporal, (who was anxious to be lieutenant.) But 
long before my accusers awoke in the morning, I reported myself 
to the colonel, stating to him that I was not yet released from 
detail, and that I was performing service for General Grant. He 
released me from the guard. 

I now borrowed a pair of field glasses from Captain Clark, who 
was in command of company A. Captain Clark was a brave 
soldier. I saw him in many battles ; he was always at his post, 
both cool and deliberate. 

On this day I proceeded down the river a distance of two miles, 
where I found an old dugout, which I fitted up, and succeeded in 
getting to the river. I went down the river using as great caution 
as possible, keeping close to the banks so as to escape detection. 
When I was most to Yicksburg I landed, and secreted my boat 
amongst the weeds, where there was a bend in the river. I then 
proceeded down the bank, taking observations. I saw them 
planting a new water battery. While I was taking close observa- 
tions through my glass, there suddenly jumped up a man on the 
levee, but a short distance from me, dressed in citizen's clothes. 
To avoid him seeing me I crept from the levee and hid under a 
log ; I had not lain here many minutes before I found I was 
surrounded by about forty rebels. I had in my possession at this 
time General Grant's pass, and my field glasses, and other unmis- 
takable proofs that I was in the Union army. It may well be 
imagined that my position was anything but comfortable. Every 
moment they remained was to me like hours. They stood about 
twenty minutes discussing the position of our fleet, army, etc., 
then they separated and went in difi'erent directions. When I 
found they had all disappeared I returned to my boat. It was 
then quite dark. I paddled up the river, having to be cautious 
lest I should run against some floating timber which was continu- 
ally floating down the river. When I was about half way back 
to our lines, I found the current so strong I could not gain an 
inch. The boat was now half full of water, and I had no means 
of bailing it out; therefore it was unmanageable. I headed for 
the bank, and as I was near shore I ran against a tree, which was 
floating in the water. It upset my boat, throwing me and the 
contents into the river; which consisted of a field glass worth 



14 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

forty dollars, one axe, canteen, haversack and rubber blanket. 
All I saved from tins disaster was my paddle, which proved to be 
the best thing I could have saved, as it was easier to paddle myself 
to the shore than it was the boat. I had about two miles to walk 
to reach our lines. These two miles were covered with water, like 
one vast lake. The only way I could tell whither I was going in 
the river was by the paddle ; if I could feel bottom I felt safe, if 
not, I would turn my course. The most of this distance the 
water was hip deep, part of the time to my arms, and the balance 
of the time to my chin. When I neared the levee, it became so 
deep that I was unable to wade through it, as it was deeper where 
they dug out to build the levee. But I remembered where there 
was some flood wood; I went round to and managed to get across 
on it. When crossing this flood wood I recollected the pickets 
were but a few rods distant, but it was so dark I could not see 
them. I thought if they heard my noise they would take me for 
a rebel. I hallooed to them, and told them I was a friend with a 
pass. All of them left the levee immediately, without saying a 
word to me, leaving a clear road for me to my company. On 
arriving at the company, and relating my adventure, the boys 
laughed at me, and said I got enough of scouting this time. 



This is only part of a book, which will soon be published by the 
writer of this. The book will give a minute account of two months 
and a half spent by the writer inside the rebel lines, over an area 
of country from Vicksburg to Port Hudson ; from there to Mobile, 
Alabama ; from thence to Chattanooga, Tennessee ; then to 
Columbus, Alabama ; from there to Grenada, Mississippi, and 
was there taken prisoner, tried as a spy, and condemed to 
death, but escaped from the prison at Jackson, Mississippi, 
only one day previous to the day of execution. Made his way 
through two hundred and fifty miles on rebel territory, and finally 
reached the Union lines in safety. It will also give interesting 



THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 15 

sketches of wliat the writer saw on Sherman's march to the sea. 
It contains the real feelings of the rebels in the last hours of the 
rebellion, as the writer conversed with many of the leading rebels. 
It will also give a detail account of the way that soldiers were 
cheated out of their rations, those rations converted into green- 
backs, which were put in commissaries' pockets. Also how hospital 
stewards and army physicians disposed of sanitary supplies. 
Also the method by which provost marshals determined whether 
a man was fit for military duty or not. It also contains the method 
by which bounty-jumping was successfully carried on between 
provost marshals and bounty brokers. It will also give an 
account how paymasters could pay the army and make twenty-five 
per cent, more than their salaries. It will also show how shoulder- 
straps could be away from their commands, and at home in the 
North, reported on the sick-list, without examinations. It will 
further show how shoulder-straps could obtain liquors by the aid 
of suttlers, when it was prohibited by the commanding generals. 

This work will contain six hundred pages. It will be printed 
with large type, on the very best paper. It will contain a litho- 
graph of Yicksburg and Young's Point, and the positions of the 
fleet, army, etc. It will also contain a lithograph of the city of 
Grenada, and the headquarters of the rebel General Tillman, 
where the writer was brought before for examination. It will 
contain a perfect steel engraving of General U. S. Grant, and 
also a steel engraving of the writer. One half of the book 
will be bound with red and blue morocco, guilt edges, and trimmed 
other ways with gold ; the other half will be neatly bound in cloth, 
guilt edges, and trimmed other ways with gold. Books bound in 
morocco, will cost three dollars and fifty cents; those bound in 
cloth, will cost two dollars and fifty cents. Any one wishing to 
subscribe for the work, will send a letter to S. Woolworth, No. 816, 
South Clark street, Chicago, Illinois, with his address, and name 
of post office, he will be forwarded one of these pamphlets imme- 
diately on the receipt of his letter; his name will be placed on the 
list of subscribers, and the book will be forwarded to him as soon 
as published; it will be sent by express with collection. 

I take the liberty of offering this work to the public, in behalf 
of the soldiers who fought for the preservation of this Union. I 



16 THE MISSISSIPPI SCOUT. 

was one af those soldiers myself; to show the wrongs heaped on 
the soldiers; and to show the sufferings endui'ed by the soldiers, 
to preserve the nation. The writer has never seen anything 
written by any one but shoulder-straps, or leading politicians, 
emblazoned with heroic deeds and bravery of shoulder-straps. 
The public will please excuse all imperfections in the work, as it 
is not written by any great orator, divine, or politician. It is^ only 
written by a private soldier, without fear or reward. 



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